Lizard stirs controversy in West Texas

The Dunes Sagebrush Lizard, a small sandy-colored lizard about the size of your hand, is going up against one of the most powerful industries in the country – oil and gas businesses in Texas.

Dunes Sagebrush Lizrd

The rare species found only in the shinnery oak dunes of West Texas and southeast New Mexico – which also happens to be home to one of the most oil-rich areas in the country – will be the focus of a Natural Resources Senate Committee hearing on Monday. The hearing will weigh the implications, particularly on the oil and gas industry, of the lizard being included on the federal endangered species list.

The oil industry, state officials and U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz have dug in its heels and called for the federal government to stay out of their business and keep the lizard off the United States Fish and Wildlife endangered list.

“It’s our lizard and they make darned good boots,” Cruz said at a candidate forum in January hosted by the Texas Business Association.

On the other side, environmental activists say the lizard is being invaded and killed by pipelines and roads built for the purpose of drilling for oil.

In December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife postponed a decision by six months whether to add the lizard to the endangered species list.

Some officials have said the listing of the species on the federal list will lead to a large hole in revenue for the state and Texas businesses.

Areas the lizard is found in Texas

“Listing the sand dune lizard on the endangered species could devastate oil and gas production in the following counties: Gaines, Andrews, Ward, Winkler and Crane,” the Texas Land Commissioner’s website reads.

However, Ken Kramer, director of the Sierra Club – Lone Star Chapter, said the consequences of the lizard being listed as endangered are exaggerated.

“I think there is a great deal of hyperbole involved, the lizard being listed on the endangered species list is definitely is not going to stop oil and gas production in West Texas,” Kramer said.

He said there are ways to mitigate the effects of a newly listed species to regional industries like ranching and drilling for oil.

State Comptroller Susan Combs put together a voluntary Habitat Conservation Plan to protect the lizard and allow drilling to continue, which has garnered support from groups like the Texas Business Association.

“She organized stakeholders and negotiated a Plan that ensures that the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard will not jeopardize oil and gas production in one of the most prolific fields in North America,” said Bill Hammond, President and CEO of TAB. “This Plan accomplishes the one essential thing that is critical to Texas, the assurance that oil and gas exploration and production can continue regardless of the outcome of a listing decision for the lizard.”